ST. LOUIS (AP) -If the San Diego Chargers can save LaDainian Tomlinson for the regular season, the St. Louis Rams figure they can preserve their star running back, too.

Tomlinson, the NFL MVP, didn't dress for the Chargers' 30-13 preseason victory Saturday night and hasn't been on the field in August since 2005. St. Louis' Steven Jackson, who led the league with 2,334 yards rushing and receiving last year, might as well have not dressed, either.

Jackson was on the field for the first play, a pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt, and then called it a night. In two games, Jackson has two receptions for 8 yards, but no carries.

Jackson, who didn't know beforehand that he'd have such an easy night, chatted with reporters after the game but declined interviews because he was not a factor. Tomlinson wasn't surprised his counterpart wasn't used, saying, ''He's definitely a guy that I wouldn't put in the preseason.''

The trick, Tomlinson said, is getting prepared without it.

''There's a lot of stuff you've got to do to make sure you stay in shape, stay game ready,'' Tomlinson said. ''When that first game comes you have to realize you haven't played and you have to let the game come to you.''

The Chargers (1-1) didn't need Tomlinson, who gouged the Rams for 183 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-point victory last season. Darren Sproles returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half and Philip Rivers threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Vincent Jackson in the first quarter.

''The No. 1 thing I was looking for was that improvement you make from Game 1 to Game 2, and I think we made that,'' coach Norv Turner said. ''We did an awful lot of good things in the first half.''

Two turnovers negated scoring opportunities in the first half for the Rams (1-1), with Bulger's overthrown pass intercepted in the end zone and Madison Hedgecock fumbling after a reception at the Chargers 19. Shaun Phillips stripped the ball on Hedgecock's fumble and forced a second fumble in the first half with a blind-side hit on Bulger, although the Rams recovered on that play.

''When you know you only have three or four series you press a little bit,'' Bulger said. ''I probably took some risks I shouldn't have and I've got to do a better job of protecting the ball.''

Most starters for both teams played the majority of the first half.

The Rams averted a shutout on backup quarterback Gus Frerotte's 7-yard pass to Marques Hagans on fourth down with 8:26 to go. Left-footed Kevin Lovell, the backup kicker behind Jeff Wilkins, who also hasn't appeared in the preseason, hit field goals of 44 and 42 yards.

St. Louis' special teams were among the worst in the NFL last year, allowing two kickoff returns and one punt return for touchdown, and allowed a 33-yard return to Quinton Jones in the fourth quarter. One positive development: Dante Hall, who missed the preseason opener with a hamstring injury, had a 25-yard kickoff return and 12-yard punt return in the first half.

Tomlinson's backup, Michael Turner, had nine carries for 48 yards. Jackson's backup, second-round pick Brian Leonard, got a lot more work with 17 carries for 49 yards and two receptions for 18 yards.

Vincent Jackson's 5-yard scoring catch capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive after Hedgecock's lost fumble. It was ruled he was forced out of the back of the end zone by safety Corey Chavous' hit, although replays were inconclusive.

''The referees, they saw it one way and you've just got to live with it, I learned that a long time ago,'' Chavous said. ''I thought I was in pretty good shape.''

Sproles was barely touched on his punt return, which put the Chargers ahead 14-0 with 33 seconds to go in the half. Sproles missed all of last season after breaking his left leg on a punt return in the preseason opener.

''It feels really good,'' Sproles said. ''It feels good just to be out there running around.''

The Chargers' backups added three scores in the fourth quarter, an 8-yard pass from Billy Volek to Scott Chandler, a 13-yard run by Germaine Race and Nate Kaeding's 22-yard field goal.

Notes: Chargers backup RB Tyronne Gross was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an apparent knee injury, although the team had no update after the game. Gross, who was on the Chargers' practice squad last year, appeared to hyperextend his right knee at the end of an 8-yard carry. ... The game was blacked out on local TV, with about 7,000 seats unsold. Attendance was announced as 58,288 although the Edward Jones Dome, which has a capacity of about 65,000, appeared to be about half-full. ... Rams G Richie Incognito sprained an ankle in the first half and underwent X-rays, but appeared to be walking fine in the locker room after the game.